Biltmore Estate in Asheville North Carolina, Part 1
Nestled in the western Appalachian mountain community of Asheville, North Carolina lies Biltmore Estate. On Christmas Eve 1895, the Vanderbilts opened their home to family and friends. The property once encompassed 125,000 acres but after George Vanderbilt’s death his wife sold most of the land to United States Forestry. The estate is now only 8,000 acres. The original size is mind blowing in itself but so is the current layout. The 250 room mansion is America’s largest private home and while we didn’t see all the rooms, we saw plenty. Now follow along as I take you step by step through the first floor and much of the grounds in this first part.
Biltmore offers a few different ways to access the grounds. Our tickets were for the house, gardens, & grounds. The admission time for the house was 1:15pm but we had the option to enter the estate grounds when they opened and could stay until closing if we wanted. We didn’t get there at 8:30am but early enough to drive around a bit before deciding to browse the shops at Antler Hill Village & Winery.
The fountain made a great focal point to capture Antler Village. I wish I had thought to snap a picture of the coins in the water. The building to the right is a gift shop. We browsed a bit inside but I nothing caught my eye or my dollars. 
Isn’t this the pretties restroom you’ve ever seen? It’s on the left side and the right side is another gift shop. This time I hit the jack pot finding a few nice tokens of our visit. 
From this angle just past the winery is the Legacy Museum. I’ll tell you about that in a few. 😉 
I don’t know what this little transport vehicle was used for now but I think I read somewhere its purpose. I just thought it was cute. 
This is pretty cool, an old dairy truck. After we snapped a few pictures, it turned into a food vending outlet. The double lifting windows on the side opened to serve barbecue. We ate here after touring the house and it was delicious! 
A little history behind Biltmore Dairy – very interesting read. 
If there are flowers anywhere, then I’m gonna take a picture. Aren’t these just beautiful?
This is out of sequence, but it’s fitting to include it the next two pictures here since I mentioned the Legacy Museum because during the house tour we didn’t see Napoleon’s cheese set in the Salon and when we asked about it found that it had been moved to the museum.
Instead of posting a bunch of pictures, I created this collage of Napoleon’s cheese set below.
The Legacy Museum was full of Biltmore history but by the time we got to back around to it, we were exhausted.
The slideshow coming up is only a small sample from the more than 300 pictures taken. You might enjoy the presentation along with the above music playlist.
The Winter Garden just off the grand entrance of the home is my favorite room in Biltmore. I love the sunlight filled room! 
The Billiard Rom 
The Banquet Hall. The fireplace is enormous and the detailed etched artwork in the granite amazing! Later on, I’ll share a picture taken from the window in the upper left corner of the fireplace. 
This is plenty of seating for a large party. 
A close up shot of the fireplace artwork. 
The Breakfast Room is elegant, less formal than the Banquet Room. 
The Salon – if my memory is correct this is the room that displayed Napoleon’s cheese set years ago. I read this room was designed to reflect the Vanderbilt’s Dutch heritage 
I love these travel chests on show just outside the Salon with the Winter Garden in the background 
I can almost imagine this dulcimer playing lovely music for estate guests long ago 
A view of the Blue Ridge mountains from the home’s veranda 
The Music Room was not completed while George Vanderbilt was still living 
Music was very important to the Vanderbilt family. This square shaped piano is called, pianoforte. It was made by Joseph Newman of Baltimore around 1835 
The Steinway once located in the Music Room now resides in the Tapestry Room 
The beautiful tapestries hanging on the wall hold stories for those wishing to learn more here. 
Paintings on the wall leading to the library. George Vanderbilt hangs just above the entrance and to the right his wife, Edith. The painting on the left could also be Edith when she older 
Tea time and snack in the Tapestry room 
This is to the right entering the library 
The beautiful ceiling just above the bookcases in the previous picture 
I just love the monk hushing etch in the library wall corner 
This is a view of the library with the previous three pictures to my back 
Pardon me but my photography ability fail to capture the beautiful ceiling painting of “The Chariot of Aurora”. I get a crick in my neck just looking at it. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to paint a scene overhead like this. You might want to check out Biltmore’s Library Photo Gallary where you’ll find a better image. 
A different angel of the library. This might be my second favorite room in the whole house.
In two weeks, I plan to share more photos in this mini series and I hope you’ll continue the tour with me in part 2.
If one unplanned post this week isn’t enough, I have another scheduled for tomorrow. If you’re hanging around Blogosphere, feel free to stop by for a little visit and some music! This is CAAC signing off, have fun and not-so Wordless Wednesday! X💋X💋, Cathy
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23 Comments
Birgit
I would love…love to see this place! I went to RI and saw a few of the Summer Homes of these Robber Barons and it was amazing. I am so glad these places have been saved.
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit,
I’d love to see some of those stately old summer homes in RI even if it’s only from the outside. Elaborate homes as this or those you mentioned, reminded me that we watched the film “Babylon” on Paramount+ this weekend. It’s a dark comedy focusing on the rise on Mexican immigrant (Diego Calva) in the early days of Hollywood, a self-proclaimed star (Margot Robbie) from Jersey, and Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt) a film star in the early days of Hollywood. The whole time I was watching it, I couldn’t imagine living that kind of life style wild parties and fancy homes, mostly it was the partying. Oh my if this production is just hair accurate with the way things really were then “Holy Moly!” I don’t know how anyone lived past the age of 30. The movie was okay but it’s not good enough to watch a second time. Thanks for taking the tour with me!
Marie aka Dolly!
Oh my gosh, can you imagine living in such a place!!!! HOLY COW! Some of those rooms would just take my breath away I think. It’s really awesome! I know you had a grand time. How did you ever find out about such a place? I love anything antique/old. It just gives me the chills talking about it. I’m probably going to come back & looks at these pics again & again! Girl this is just awesome & thanks for sharing! You’re just the best and oh so sweet! Thank you lots! Luv ya, HUGS, Marie
Cathy Kennedy
Marie,
Biltmore Estate is quite the tourist attraction in western North Carolina. It’s an amazing place to visit. You really get your exercise climbing stairs and walking the grounds. What blows my mind is the original estate comprised of 125,000 acres. I’d love to find a single acre that’s level for us to build a home on. What a chore we’re having find this unicorn as that’s exactly what it feels like, does even thing exist that’s priced reasonably? Yeah, the pricing part plays a huge part in our hunt. I’m glad you enjoyed the tour. Visit anytime you want!
diedre Knight
Awesome pictures, Cathy! We had the opportunity to visit/tour Biltmore Estate back in the eighties. Somewhere there’s a picture of my dad’s wife and I – standing in the massive fireplace!
Eugi
Such a beautiful place and I have toured it many times. Thank you for bringing back fond memories.
Cathy Kennedy
You’re so welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed the tour, Eugi! 🙂
Natasha
Absolutely loved this tour, replete in history, architecture, beauty and beyond. And the music was a befitting tribute to your wonderful trio, Cathy. Look forward to the rest.
Loads of love and kisses sweety.
Have a fun week ahead. xoxo
Cathy Kennedy
Thanks, Natasha! I’m happy you enjoyed the picture tour of Biltmore!
Brian
That really is a gorgeous place. It’s about an hour from where we live and the Mom and Dad have visited there quite a few times.
Cathy Kennedy
Brian,
Y’all are really close. Asheville is a two hour drive which isn’t bad and totally doable. We used to visit the area more frequently but when Covid hit and government mandates to stay home, businesses on tight schedules or closed, blah-blah really was an upset. It wasn’t until spring of last year that we began really getting back out to do things cautiously and while we feel more comfortable now, we still haven’t gotten up to speed of our former selves to enjoying day trips to the mountains. We’ll get there, though. We probably will get annual passes to Biltmore since we were offered a discount after our visit and we take in the estate at a more leisurely pace. Thanks for visiting!
Marie aka Dolly!
My dearest friend, You’ll always be my little southern belle! What a fabulous vacation this is to see all these beautiful locations and Napoleon’s chess set? Wow! I’m a person I love antiques & well, just old things like houses and furniture. I have my grandmother’s end tables & I cherish them and when I leave my daughters will get one each. I’m sure they’ll take care of them. Thank you so very much for helping me out Cathy you have no idea how much I appreciate your friendship! Have a wonderful rest of your week & as soon as I can figure out my side bar I want to put your 4M there & you of course. Take care my dearest cuz I care!!! HUGS
Cathy Kennedy
Marie,
Old buildings and articles from the past are charming. I love that these things are preserved for generations to enjoy.
I’m confident you’ll figure out how to get your side bar setup. Thanks for walking through Biltmore with me in this first part. Have a wonderful week, darlin’!
Ellen Pilch
Beautiful photos. I like that winter garden too. XO
Cathy Kennedy
Ellen,
The Winter Garden would be a wonderful place to enjoy your morning meals or even an art room, the lighting is warm and gorgeous!
messymimi's meanderings
It’s quite beautiful but i simply cannot imagine living someplace so lavish.
Cathy Kennedy
Mimi,
Biltmore is quite posh and like you I can’t imagine living that kind of lifestyle but it’s really interesting to see. I actually preferred the servant quarters over the lavish rooms in this part. Next time, I hope to share those pictures. What I think of is commoners in the Vanderbilts days probably never stepped across Biltmore’s threshold unless they were servant and now days the decedents of those commoners can access the home for a price. It certainly isn’t cheap to visit but then that’s the way every attraction is these days. There aren’t too many free ones left. Thanks for dropping by, my dear!
Sandee
What a beautiful place. I would have loved to join you. Beautiful mansion and grounds.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. Love and hugs. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
Biltmore is a massive, beautiful place. It’s too fancy for me but still it’s thrill to see. You really feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Thanks for joining me in the first installment of our Biltmore Estate tour.
stevebethere
What beautiful photos I enjoyed those have a ashvilletastic week and WW Cathy 👍
Cathy Kennedy
Steve,
I’m glad you enjoyed the photo tour. It’s good seeing you again, my friend. Please, don’t be a stranger. We’d love to have you back on the 4M dance floor. Have fototastic day!
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
Happy Wednesday, dear friend!
I will need to keep my comments short from here on in, because yesterday Mrs. Shady and I bought a house in another state and we are scrambling to get packed, sell this house and prepare for the awesome task of moving more than a thousand miles away. I will be out of state two weeks from now looking at the new house and will not be able to see Pt. 2 of this series. I apologize.
I appreciate the opportunity this morning to tour Biltmore Estates, something Mrs. Shady, her son and I elected not to do on our 2020 trip to Western North Carolina which included Asheville. The grounds around the estate are immaculate. I love the fountain, deluxe restrooms and vintage vehicles. Inside the house and museum, the grandeur is striking. The billiard room, chess set, Banquet Hall, ornate architecture and paintings are magnificent, as well as the view of the mountains from that balcony. Mrs. Shady is a huge fan of classical music and she would have loved seeing that Music Room as well as the Library. The cathedral ceilings are out of this world. Like you, I would have gravitated to the Winter Garden area. It’s just beautiful and I can only imagine how good it smelled.
I will make every effort to be here again tomorrow. Until then, enjoy your Wednesday, dear friend Cathy!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom,
You’re such a loyal friend! Thank you for taking time from your very busy life to visit. Please, don’t worry about missing posts at CAAC. If you’re still getting notifications via email then you can see what I share and whenever it’s a good time for you to pick and choose what you want to read. There’s no worry here. I want you and Mrs. Shady to make the most of this massive move. WOW, more than a thousand miles! I’ll be anxious to hear the news which state you’ll call your forever home. This is exciting and I’m a bit envious that you’re beating me to the punch. 🙂
Biltmore Estate is amazing. A place you both would enjoy but there’s a lot of ground to cover and a whole lot of steps to climb which is a challenge for anyone. I do encourage you if y’all ever get a chance to visit then do so, you won’t be disappointed. You should see this place at Christmas. It’s like a picture out of storybook! Be well, dear friend and thank you for the update on what’s going on with you.